List of songs recorded by Michael Jackson

• Rap by Shaquille O'Neal
• Used in the film Michael Jackson's Ghosts (1996)

• Backing vocals by Teddy Riley

• The Jacksons with Michael Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Rebbie Jackson and Janet Jackson

• Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell and Ted Ross

• Written and recorded in 1998
• Failed to make Invincible album.
• The track resembles "A Horse with No Name", a hit song by rock band America
• A 24-second snippet leaked online on July 16, 2009
• Full version leaked online on December 18, 2013

• Bill Withers cover

• Recorded at the Encino House in 1986
• Evolved into "Smooth Criminal"

• Monica with Michael Jackson's background vocal from "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" with ad-libs taken from the Invincible recording sessions

• Stevie Wonder with backing vocal by Michael Jackson

• Barry Gibb with Michael Jackson
• Released by Barry Gibb on June 25, 2011, the two year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death as a standalone single

• Hiram Sherman cover

• Used in the film Captain EO (1986)

• One of the two disco songs from album

• Originally intended to be a duet with Prince
• Remix with Afrojack, DJ Buddha and Pitbull released on Bad 25 (2012)

• Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell and Ted Ross

• Guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen
• Demo released on This Is It (2009)
• Remix with Fergie released on Thriller 25 (2008)

• Previously unreleased demo recorded between 1998 and 2004 (during Invincible sessions)
• Failed to make Invincible album

• Featuring additional background vocals by Shanice
• Greg Philinganes recorded this song on the album Pulse (1984) with the contribution of Michael's background vocals
• An agreement to share the royalties equally between Michael Jackson, Chris Mosdell and Ryuichi Sakamoto broke down when the management of Yellow Magic Orchestra disagreed and it prevented the song to be released on Jackson's sixth studio album, Thriller (1982), which made it unreleased for over 25 years

• Theme from Ben (1972)

• One of the last songs that Michael Jackson recorded during his lifetime, having written and recorded it in 2009, the year of his death
• Was slated to premiere during the final This Is It concert

• 1981 demo released on Thriller (Special Edition) (2001) and Thriller 25 (Deluxe Edition) (2008)
• Remix with Kanye West released on Thriller 25 (2008)

• Rap by L.T.B.

[39]

• Originally recorded for the Dangerous album

• Also known as "No Friend of Mine" or "Gangsta"
• Recorded in 1999
• Failed to make Invincible album
• Leaked online in 2010

• Background vocals by Dr. Freeze

• Debates on if the songs were sung by Jackson, or sound alike Jason Malachi
• 1 of 12 songs written with Cascio
• Recorded in 2007
• Along with 9 unreleased songs were auctioned for an unreleased CD titled Bible that was never released
• Demo leaked online

• Recorded in June 1979

• Remix with Eve
• Also released as a third single from Invincible in February 2002

• Original version released on Anthology (1995)
• Working title "Fussin' and Fightin'"

• B-side of "The Girl Is Mine" (1982)
• An overdubbed version of The Wiz song "You Can't Win"
• Later released on The Essential Michael Jackson 3.0 (2008), several editions of King of Pop (2008) and The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection (2013)

• 6th track on Jackson's 8th studio album Dangerous.
• It was recorded and mixed by Bruce Swedien and Teddy Riley in 1991.
• Sometimes incorrectly referred to as "I Can't Let Her Get Away".

• Also known as "Circus Girl"
• Short version released on Thriller (Special Edition) (2001) and Thriller 25 (Deluxe Edition) (2008)
• Full version released on several editions of King of Pop (2008) and The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection (2013)

• Rebbie Jackson featuring background vocals by Michael Jackson, La Toya Jackson and The Weather Girls

• Recorded in 1987
• Failed to make Bad album

• Also known as "She Was Lovin' Me" and "Chicago (She Was Lovin' Me)"
• Recorded in 1999
• Failed to make the Invincible album
• Not to be confused with "Chicago 1945"
• Version intended for the Michael album leaked online in 2010

• Theme from Free Willy 2 (1995)

• This song was recorded in December 1974
• It was produced by Hal Davis and is 3 minutes and 8 seconds in length.

• The Beatles cover
• Recorded in 1988 for the film Moonwalker (1988)
• Full version released on the single "Remember the Time" (1992)
• Edited version released on HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)

• Also known as "Cry (You Can Change the World)"
• Recorded in 2000

• Guitar by Slash

• Evolved from "Streetwalker"
• Early version released on The Ultimate Collection (2004)

• Freestyle

• Recorded in December 1974 and was written by Hal Davis and Elliott Wilensky.

• Guitar by Steve Stevens

• The Simpsons featuring background vocals by Michael Jackson

• Also known as "12 O'Clock"
• Written and recorded in 1986
• Failed to make the Bad album
• Debates on whether this song came from the Bad era or the Dangerous era.
• Leaked online in 2010

• 1960 song written by Lena Agree and originally performed by Jackie Wilson.

• Song features Michael Jackson playing the piano
• Bruce Swedien stated that this song would have been a masterpiece
• Few short snippets from the Thriller era leaked before released
• Failed to make Bad album

• Joe King Carrasco & The Crowns featuring background vocals by Michael Jackson

• Original version released on Anthology (1995)

• Drake with Michael Jackson
• Original Jackson vocals recorded in 1983

• Janet Jackson with backing vocals by Michael Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Tito Jackson and Jackie Jackson

• 1978 demo released on Off the Wall (Special Edition) (2001)

• 12th track from Invincible album

• "Earth Song" was originally written and composed by Jackson under the title "What About Us".
• A demo, which featured Jackson singing the ending in falsetto, was to be released as part of a bonus disc for the remastered Dangerous album in 2001 but the release was cancelled; the song along with other tracks were leaked on the internet.

• Diana Ross and Michael Jackson
• In 3 versions

• Diana Ross with Michael Jackson and Barry Gibb
• A solo version was recorded by Michael Jackson but remains unreleased

• Appeared on the B side of the album

• The song originally recorded by Connie Francis entitled "Everybody's Somebody's Fool"

• Recorded a demo of the song in 1999,
• It was released in 2004

• Original version released on Anthology (1995)
• Working title "Let Me Count the Ways"

• Rebbie Jackson recorded the song on the album Yours Faithfully (1998) with Michael's backing vocals

• Written by Michael Sherwood and Steve Porcaro
• Recorded during the Thriller session
• Later reworked during the Dangerous session
• Failed to make the Dangerous album
• Leaked onto the Internet as the alternate version from the Dangerous session
• Released on Thriller 25 from the Thriller session

• Stevie Wonder with Michael Jackson

• Used in the film Michael Jackson's Ghosts (1996)

• Original version released on Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection (2009)

• Paul McCartney & Wings cover
• Originally written for Michael Jackson

• Jay Z with backing vocals by Michael Jackson and Chante Moore

• Guitar by Slash

• Kenny Rogers with backing vocals by Michael Jackson and Lionel Riche

• Dedicated to the memory of Michael Jackson's friend Ryan White

• Later released on several editions of King of Pop (2008) and The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection (2013)

• First solo single by Michael Jackson

• Love Theme from Lady Sings the Blues (1972)

• Version with Michael's spoken words released on a very rare promo titled Signature Series (1992)

• 2nd track from Invincible album
• Rap performed by Fats

• Original version released on Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection (2009)

• The Doobie Brothers with backing vocals by Michael Jackson

• Backing vocals by Boyz II Men

• With Akon
• Originally recorded in 2008
• Unfinished version leaked in July 2008

• Spoken bridge by Taryll Jackson and written by Teddy Riley

• With Lenny Kravitz
• Drums by Dave Grohl (of Foo Fighters and formerly of Nirvana) were recorded, but didn't make the final cut
• Also known as "Another Day"
• A 90-second snippet leaked online on January 4, 2010
• Includes vocals from "We've Had Enough"
• Rewritten by Lenny Kravitz and retitled "Storm" featuring Jay Z on Kravitz's album Baptism (2004)

• Duet with Siedah Garrett
• Originally intended to be a duet with Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, or Agnetha Fältskog (formerly of ABBA)
• French and Spanish versions titled "Je Ne Veux Pas La Fin De Nous" and "Todo Mi Amor Eres Tu"

• Demo titled "The Way You Love Me" released on The Ultimate Collection (2004)
• Failed to make the Invincible album
• Also known as "I Like the Way"

• Eric Carmen cover
• 3T with Michael Jackson on backing vocals

• Bobby Goldsboro cover

• Virtual duet by Minnie Riperton and Michael Jackson

• Later released on Ben (1972)

• Written in 1989
• Recorded in 1994
• Failed to make the HIStory album
• Was worked on in 1997 for inclusion on the Blood on the Dancefloor album

• With female vocal originally labeled as "Mystery Girl", but later revealed to be Princess Stéphanie of Monaco
• Originally intended to be a duet with Madonna

• 3rd track on Invincible album
• Rap performed by Fats

• Used in the film Michael Jackson's Ghosts (1996)

• Brandy with backing vocals of Michael Jackson from "Ride with Me"

• With Patti Austin

• Rap by Heavy D

• Duet with Siedah Garrett
• French version of "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"

• Carole Bayer Sager with Michael Jackson

• With Stevie Wonder

• Choir arrangement by Andrae Crouch
• Jackson worked on an early demo for "Keep the Faith" recorded in 1990
• Early demo was leaked onto the Internet

• Debates on if the songs were sung by Jackson, or sound alike Jason Malachi
• 1 of 12 songs written with Cascio
• Along with 9 unreleased songs were auctioned for an unreleased CD titled Bible that was never released
• Demo leaked online

• Released on later reissues and on the CD edition of Bad (1987)

• Spoken part by Letta Mbulu
• Recorded in 1987
• Evolved from "Pyramid Girl" which was written in 1983 for The Jacksons' album Victory (1984)

• Later released on the reissues of The Jackson 5's Christmas Album (1970)

• Jackie Wilson cover

• The Supremes cover

• Two versions released as singles, solo and duet with Justin Timberlake
• Written in 1983, after the Thriller album for The Jacksons' album Victory
• Failed to make the Bad album
• Demo version leaked onto the Internet in 2006
• Recorded by Johnny Mathis and released on his 1984 album A Special Part of Me

• The Jackson 5 version released on Boogie (1979)

• Michael Jackson wrote and recorded the track in the mid-80s before bringing the multi-track tapes to his trusted engineer, Matt Forger, to mix
• Only song on Xscape not to have been leaked before release

• Lenny Kravitz with backing vocals by Michael Jackson

• Backing vocals by Siedah Garrett, The Winans, and The Andraé Crouch Choir

• Original version released on Anthology (1995)

• Written by Michael Jackson and Bryan Loren in 1989 for Siegfried & Roy's Beyond Belief Show
• Michael Jackson gave his permission for Siegfried & Roy to release this song on their German album Dreams & Illusions (1995)

• The Doobie Brothers with backing vocals by Michael Jackson

• Debates on if the songs were sung by Jackson, or sound alike Jason Malachi
• Rap by 50 Cent
• Guitar by Orianthi
• 1 of 12 songs written with Cascio
• Along with 9 unreleased songs were auctioned for an unreleased CD titled Bible that was never released
• Demo leaked online

• Guitar by Slash
• Also known as "Just Say No"

• Diana Ross with Michael Jackson on backing vocals

• The Temptations cover
• The Jackson 5 pre-Motown version released on Big Boy (1993)

• La Toya Jackson with Michael Jackson

• Was originally recorded by Michael Jackson for the Spike Lee film Get on the Bus in 1996
• It was the lead track of a 3 track minimax CD single, which was released as part of the Deluxe Collector Box Set of Michael Jackson's Ghosts on December 11, 1997 in the United Kingdom
• A shorter version with a fade out was on the minimax CD single and the full length version of the song was released on The Ultimate Collection (2004)

• Failed to make the Invincible album

• Demo written by Michael Jackson and Greg Phillinganes
• Demo released on The Ultimate Collection (2004)
• Remix with will.i.am released on Thriller 25 (2008)

• Bill Wolfer with backing vocal by Michael Jackson
• The Temptations cover
• Live version by The Jackson 5 released on The Jackson 5 in Japan (1973)

• The Stylistics cover

• Poem, published in the liner notes of Dangerous (1991)

• Had been scheduled as the theme for a Pepsi commercial starring Michael Jackson, but was replaced by "Bad"

• Guitar by Slash

• Instrumental, Rodney Jerkins with backing vocals by Michael Jackson

• Bobby Day cover
• Leon Rene is credited under the pseudonym "Jimmie Thomas"

• Dave Mason with Michael Jackson

• Paul McCartney with Michael Jackson

• Duet with Janet Jackson

• Rap by Wreckx-n-Effect

• Demo released on This Is It (2009)

• Stevie Wonder cover

• B-side of "Cry" (2001)
• Later released on The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection (2013)
• Intended to be released on Invincible (2001), but was replaced with "You Are My Life" at the last minute

• Also known as "Slave 2 the Rhythm"
• Michael Jackson worked on the song during the Dangerous sessions and completed it in 1998
• Leaked on to the internet in 2010
• Justin Bieber recorded a duet version featuring Michael Jackson which was leaked in August 2013. This version was unauthorized by the Michael Jackson Estate and has since made attempts to remove the song from as many sites and YouTube channels as possible.
• The song was featured in a Sony smartphone commercial in February 2014

• Originally an instrumental theme from Charlie Chaplin's 1936 film Modern Times
• Vocal cover of lyrics originally sung by Nat King Cole

• Evolved from "Al Capone" and "Chicago 1945"

• Bill Wolfer with backing vocals by Michael Jackson

• Rockwell with Michael Jackson on chorus and Jermaine Jackson on backing vocals

• Originally released on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) for a limited time
• Later released on Thriller (Special Edition) (2001), The Ultimate Collection (2004) and Thriller 25 (Deluxe Edition) (2008)

• Released May 1992 as an exclusive Pepsi promotional single
• Edited version intended for Bad (Special Edition) (2001) but fail to make the final cut
• Later released on The Ultimate Collection (2004)

• Quincy Jones featuring Patti Austin and backing vocals by Michael Jackson

• Also known as "Abortion Papers" and "Song Groove (Abortion Papers)"

• Remix with Nero released on Bad 25 (2012)

• Donna Summer featuring background vocals by Michael Jackson, Brenda Russell, James Ingram, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and various artists

• Written on September 15, 1993 in Moscow, Russia during the Dangerous World Tour

• Evolved into "Dangerous"

• Originally scheduled to appear on the special edition reissue of Off the Wall (1979) in 2001, but withdrawn

• Originally recorded for the Dangerous album

• Jermaine Jackson with Michael Jackson

• The Miracles cover

• Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram and Michael Jackson

• With Paul McCartney
• Remix with will.i.am released on Thriller 25 (2008)
• Solo demo version (Jackson only) released on single The Girl Is Mine 2008

• Features Jackson's son Prince and Aldo Cascio

• Paul McCartney with Michael Jackson

• Evolved from "Hot Fever" which was written in 1985

• Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson recorded the duet during 1981–1983 along with two other songs, "Victory" and "State of Shock" ("State of Shock" was re-recorded with Mick Jagger and released on The Jacksons's album Victory (1984))
• Song was released as a solo song by Mercury on his album Mr. Bad Guy (1985)
• Reworked duet version released on Queen's album Queen Forever (2014)

• The Brothers Johnson with backing vocals by Michael Jackson

• Backing vocals by The Jacksons
• Originally recorded as a duet with Paul Anka in 1983 under the title "I Never Heard"
• Sa-Fire recorded "I Never Heard" for the album I Wasn't Born Yesterday (1991)
• Theme from Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009)
• Duet version with Paul Anka released on Anka's album Duets (2013)

• Rap by The Notorious B.I.G.

• Contains snippets of Rod Serling's narration from the TV show The Twilight Zone

• Spoken rap by Vincent Price
• 2nd rap verse released on Thriller (Special Edition) (2001) and Thriller 25 (Deluxe Edition) (2008)
• Evolved from "Starlight"

• Original version released on Anthology (1995)

• Bryan Loren with backing vocals by Michael Jackson

• Duet with Siedah Garrett
• Spanish version of "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"

• Recorded with various artists
• Charity song for the victims of the September 11 attacks
• Spanish version of "What More Can I Give"

• Nat King Cole cover

• Original version released on Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection (2009)

• Quincy Jones featuring Patti Austin and backing vocals by Michael Jackson

• Edwin Starr cover
• Original version released on Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection (2009)

• Rap by The Notorious B.I.G.
• Background vocals by Brandy Norwood

• Demo released on This Is It (2009)
• Remix with Akon released on Thriller 25 (2008)
• Remix include new Jackson vocal recorded in 2007

• Used in the film Captain EO (1986)

• Recorded with USA for Africa
• Solo demo version released on The Ultimate Collection (2004)
• 25th anniversary version for Haiti released in 2010

• The Doobie Brothers with backing vocals by Michael Jackson

• Recorded with various artists
• Charity song for the victims of the September 11 attacks
• Spanish version titled "Todo Para Ti"
• Solo version leaked online in December 2016

• Guitar and whistle solo by Carlos Santana

• Eddie Murphy with Michael Jackson

• Kenny Loggins with backing vocals by Michael Jackson

• 3T with Michael Jackson
• A solo version was recorded by Michael Jackson but remains unreleased

• Theme from Free Willy (1993)
• Choir arrangement by Andrae Crouch

• Stevie Wonder cover

• 1978 demo released on Off the Wall (Special Edition) (2001)

• Also known as "Xcape" and "Escape"
• Recorded during the Invincible recording sessions
• Leaked onto the Internet in 2002, resulting in Michael Jackson's attorneys threatening legal action against sites that did not remove download access to the track

• Eddie Murphy with backing vocals by Michael Jackson and variors artists

• Written for Michael Jackson's children

• Intro with Chris Tucker
• Remix with Jay Z

• Carole King cover

• The Miracles cover
• Original version released on Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection (2009)
• The Jackson 5 version released on The Ultimate Rarities Collection 1: Motown Sings Motown Treasures (1998)